Britain and Prussia signed the Westminster Convention, a defensive pact meant to keep fighting out of Hanover. It helped trigger the 1756 “Diplomatic Revolution,” where long-standing alliance patterns flipped and set the stage for a wider war tied to imperial trade and colonies.
France and Austria concluded the First Treaty of Versailles, creating a defensive alliance. This agreement—alongside the Westminster Convention—is widely treated as a key part of the Diplomatic Revolution, aligning major powers into opposing blocs that would fight across Europe and overseas empires.
A major early campaign focused on strategic sea routes and naval bases that protected commerce. The fighting around Minorca highlighted how control of ports and shipping lanes was central to mercantilist-style competition for trade and empire.
The British East India Company defeated forces linked to the nawab of Bengal at Plassey. The result strengthened Britain’s position in India and weakened the French East India Company, tying the war directly to control of Asian trade networks and revenue sources.
British forces captured Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island, a key fortress guarding access to the St. Lawrence River. This made it far easier for Britain to attack the heart of New France, shifting the balance of power in North American imperial trade and settlement.
The British victory at Quebec was a turning point in the struggle for North America. It cut deeply into France’s ability to hold New France, affecting the future of colonial trade, migration, and imperial control in the region.
A major British victory at Quiberon Bay badly damaged French naval capacity and reduced the threat of invasion of Britain. Stronger British control at sea also supported overseas campaigns by protecting shipping and making it harder for France to resupply colonies.
At Wandiwash, British forces defeated the French in a decisive battle for influence in southern India. The outcome narrowed French options to a few strongholds and helped Britain move from competing for trade to controlling territory and revenue in key regions.
Montreal surrendered to British forces, effectively ending France’s ability to defend its North American mainland colony. This collapse set up the treaty negotiations that would redraw imperial borders and reshape Atlantic trade routes.
After a long siege and shortages, the French garrison at Pondicherry surrendered. This greatly reduced French military power in India and pushed the future settlement toward a model where France would retain limited trading posts rather than broad territorial influence.
British forces captured Havana, a strategic port that connected Spanish Atlantic trade and defense. The occupation created bargaining leverage in peace talks and demonstrated how capturing key ports could force major colonial and trade concessions.
The Treaty of Paris ended the main Franco-British and Anglo-Spanish fighting and reshaped empire: France gave up most mainland North American claims east of the Mississippi (with key exceptions), while Spain ceded Florida to Britain and recovered Havana and Manila. France also regained certain Caribbean islands and limited holdings in India, reflecting a settlement that prioritized profitable trade positions and shipping over some territories.
Prussia, Austria, and Saxony signed the Treaty (Peace) of Hubertusburg, ending the major continental fighting linked to the Seven Years’ War. With peace in Europe and new imperial borders overseas, Britain emerged with a stronger position for projecting power and shaping trade policy across its expanded empire.
Seven Years' War and colonial trade realignments (1756–1763)